Expecting mothers in Finland can start their maternity leave seven weeks prior to their estimated due date and then after that the government offers a maternity grant which covers 16 additional weeks of paid leave.

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Sweden

In Sweden new parents are eligible for 480 days of leave at 80 percent of their normal pay. This includes the guaranteed 18 weeks mothers get, after which the parents can split up the time however they choose.

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Iceland

New Icelandic moms can get nine months of post-childbirth leave and can decide if and how they want to split it with the new dads.

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Denmark

New mother in this charming country get a total of 18 weeks of maternity leave at full pay. They get four weeks before the birth and 14 weeks after.

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Serbia

After giving birth, mothers can take up to 20 weeks of fully paid leave. Then, they can also receive an additionally full year of leave — but compensation diminishes over time.

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Belgium

This modern city allows mothers to take up to 15 weeks for maternity leave. For the first month after the child is born, the mothers will get paid 80 percent of their salary — they get 75 percent for the rest of the time.

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Estonia

Mothers in this Baltic country are given 140 days of fully paid pregnancy and maternity leave, which can begin 30-70 days before their expected delivery date.

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Norway

This Nordic country's system is very lenient and thoughtful for new moms — they can take 35 weeks at full pay or 45 weeks at 80 percent pay.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Lithuania

This European country may beat them all! New moms get 18 weeks of fully paid leave and both parents get an additional 156 weeks to share.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Hungary

Hungarian moms get 24 weeks of paid leave at 70 percent of their salary, but this can start up to four weeks before their expected delivery date.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

These Countries Have the Best Maternity Leave Policies in the World

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Finland

Expecting mothers in Finland can start their maternity leave seven weeks prior to their estimated due date and then after that the government offers a maternity grant which covers 16 additional weeks of paid leave.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Sweden

In Sweden new parents are eligible for 480 days of leave at 80 percent of their normal pay. This includes the guaranteed 18 weeks mothers get, after which the parents can split up the time however they choose.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Iceland

New Icelandic moms can get nine months of post-childbirth leave and can decide if and how they want to split it with the new dads.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Denmark

New mother in this charming country get a total of 18 weeks of maternity leave at full pay. They get four weeks before the birth and 14 weeks after.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Serbia

After giving birth, mothers can take up to 20 weeks of fully paid leave. Then, they can also receive an additionally full year of leave — but compensation diminishes over time.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Belgium

This modern city allows mothers to take up to 15 weeks for maternity leave. For the first month after the child is born, the mothers will get paid 80 percent of their salary — they get 75 percent for the rest of the time.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Estonia

Mothers in this Baltic country are given 140 days of fully paid pregnancy and maternity leave, which can begin 30-70 days before their expected delivery date.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Norway

This Nordic country's system is very lenient and thoughtful for new moms — they can take 35 weeks at full pay or 45 weeks at 80 percent pay.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Lithuania

This European country may beat them all! New moms get 18 weeks of fully paid leave and both parents get an additional 156 weeks to share.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Hungary

Hungarian moms get 24 weeks of paid leave at 70 percent of their salary, but this can start up to four weeks before their expected delivery date.